Letterman still leads for me
Even though Jay Leno continues to run away with his lead over the Late Show with David Letterman, Dave is still the person I'd rather watch each night. According to this New York Times story (registration required) CBS has made over $1B on the Letterman Show over the last decade, and the Late Show has continued to win multiple critical accolades such as the Emmies each year:
In the first five weeks of the television season, Jay Leno has opened up his biggest lead in five years. Mr. Leno draws 2 million more viewers than Mr. Letterman's "Late Show," 5.8 million to 3.8 million. And Mr. Leno enjoys his biggest edge ever in the rivalry for 18-to-49-year-old viewers, the ones NBC - and many advertisers - most covet.
Yeah, but who's funnier? Letterman. Who's the one America turned to after 9/11? Letterman. And who's the one they turned to for the California Recall Circus featuring Arnold? Leno!
Rob Burnett, one of Mr. Letterman's executive producers, offers the consistent CBS response to Mr. Leno's ratings lead: no matter what the ratings say, Mr. Letterman remains the more original, more worthy talent.
"There are two parts of the so-called late-night war," Mr. Burnett said. "One is: who's the best. That part of the war is over. Dave won."